Dime Dropper
All-Star
There it is, he's alive. Looks like it's too little too late though.
Mock draft 2026
- Thread starter iowamcnabb
- Start date
I literally posted almost the same thing as this without seeing yours…..it’s a sign to take Wagler!
Dime Dropper
All-Star
Wagler needs to show more urgency when they have the ball next. There's playing under control, and there's playing without urgency.
Dime Dropper
All-Star
Well, I can't see UConn beating the winner of Arizona/Michigan unless they play a hell of a lot better than tonight.
Boozer being player of the year and playing like a 5th year senior at 18 years old is not even close to the "dig" you think it is at him.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
I’m not really sure how “he plays too in control for a teenager” is somehow the dig people are going with on Boozer when the fact he runs like Nikola Jokic is right there.
SacKings123
G-League
The only downside about Yaxel is that he is a MUCH older prospect. He is older than Paolo Banchero and Paolo has been in the league for 4 years already...
Telemachus
Starter
I don't see this as a problem. Most players don't stay with the team who drafted them through their first two contracts. That would mean you still get him through most of his prime. Teams often get drafted players right to the beginning of their prime only to lose them to a bigger market around the time they are entering their prime.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
When you draft a player who is 18 or 19 years old, for the most part you're drafting on potetial. When you draft an older player like Yaxel, you're drafting a player who is ready to play right now. So you're going to get more first contract playing value from the older player. If Yaxel was 19 years old with his skill set, he would be easily be in the top 3 of this draft. It makes no sense to hold his age against him.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
This is my non - official top 30 plaers right now, with no detailed explaination.
1. Caleb Wilson: Highest upside in the draft! The best athlete in the draft. I think I saw every game he played this season.
2. A.J. Dybantsa: I call him 1.B with Wilson being 1.A. I give Wilson just a slight edge simply because of his outstanding defense.
3. Cam Boozer: Highest floor in the draft with potential to be even better. Lacks the athleticism of the first two, but extremely efficient.
4. Darryn Peterson: Health issues need to be resolved. Removes himself with a leg cramp, while Wilson tries to play with a broken wrist. You decide who you would want.
5. Kingston Fleming: Came out of nowhere to be one of the best players in this draft. Doesn't have the flair of Acuff, but a way better defender.
6. Darius Acuff: A dynamic bucket getter who will be a star in the league. Can he play defense? What is his true height?
7. Keaton Wagler. Started the year as the 100th best player to becoming a top lottery pick. Looks to have a lot of upside left.
8. Mikel Brown: Moments of sheer brillance at times and sheer bone head plays at times. Not yet sure of who Brown is. But high potential.
9. Braylon Burries: Struggled over this one. Not as sold on him as some others. Had a rough last game against Michican and their great defense.
10. Yaxel Lendenberg: Age aside, He's a can't miss ready to play player right now. Love, love this dude. Super glue guy!
11. LaBarron Philon: One of the best PG's in the draft. Could be the starting PG on a team from the get go. really like his game.
12 Thomas Haugh: One of my favorite players in the draft. Great motor, and very skilled overall. Has that dog in him. Another glue guy!
13. Brayden Mullins: I think he's just scratching the surface of how good he can be. I think he has a higher ceiling than Burries.
14. Bennett Stirtz: Very talented PG. Lacks the athleticism of some of the others but not the ability. High IQ player. Don't leave him open.
15. Karim Lopez: Don't sleep on him! Good athlete! Better version of Koa Peat. Has more game away from the basket than Peat, and in my opinion, he's a better athlete.
16. Jaden Quaintance: If he had some game away from the basket, he'd be a top 5 or 6 pick. Injuries have held him back. Needs to return to Kentucky. He's this high based on potential.
17. Tounde Yessofou: Tremendous upside. Freak athlete that looks like an NFL linebacker. Needs to develop an outside game. How often have you heard that?
18. Hannes Steinback: I'm not as sold on him as some others, but a good rim protecter, and rebounder. Starting to show some outside game.
19. Chris Cenac: Very high ceiling, which so far hasn't equaled results. But he has all the tools to be a good NBA player. Like him more than I should!
20. Nate Ament: Top ten pick on potential alone, but unfortunately the results didn't equal his potential. Probably would benifit from returning to school. Probably would benefit from going back to Houston.
21. Koa Peat: His first game set a standard for him which he didn't consistently acheive. Should return to school and likely be a top 10 pick next year.
22. Aday Mara: Not as high on him as others. Good rim defender. Totally left handed offensively. Not a great athlete! Lendeberg and Johnson made him look better than he was. In my humble opinion.
23. Christian Anderson: I have him higher than most. I like his game. I think his true size will determine his spot in the draft. Good outside shooter.
24. Dailyn Swain: Definitely has NBA potential. I'd like to see him with more freedom offensively.
25. Cameron Carr: Has quietly put together a very good season. He's been very consistent all season. Very good shooter and solid defensively.
26. Isaiah Evans: A bucket getter, and a player that isn't afraid to take the big shot. Saved Duke's A$$ multiple times this season when no one else could score. Would be a great 6th man on a team.
27. Allen Graves: Could end up being one of the best players in this draft. Best player on the Santa Clara team. Shot plus 40% from three, and a solid defensive player.
28. Alex Karaban: This is personal bias pick. Love Karaban who seems like he's played at Uconn forever. Not the greatest athlete and likely will never be a starter, but could be a great rotation player. Better defender than he's given credit for. Don't leave him open!
29. Sergio De Larrea: If his game in the Spanish league translates to the NBA, then he could be the steal of this draft. Plus 40% 3pt shooter. Good passer and solid passer. Averaged just a tick under 8 assists a game. Better athlete than I orginally thought.
30. Amari Allen: There are other players that could be listed here. But talent wise, Allen is in my undecided range, along with about 20 other players yet to be named. Very deep draft and full of players that will go in the 2nd round, that I could find a place for them in the 1st round. But Allen is as good a player with as much equal potential as any of them.
By the time I get to my final mock, I'm sure there will be some changes to my top 30. Best freshmen class I've ever seen, with at least 10 to 12 potential stars down the road. When you throw in some of the good
upperclassmen, like Yaxel, you have one hell of a draft.
By the way, don't judge Yaxel on his final game. He out there playing on a sprained ankel, and an ACL sprain. He was likely only about 75% of his normal self. I think he would have found a way to play if he had a leg cramp!!!!
1. Caleb Wilson: Highest upside in the draft! The best athlete in the draft. I think I saw every game he played this season.
2. A.J. Dybantsa: I call him 1.B with Wilson being 1.A. I give Wilson just a slight edge simply because of his outstanding defense.
3. Cam Boozer: Highest floor in the draft with potential to be even better. Lacks the athleticism of the first two, but extremely efficient.
4. Darryn Peterson: Health issues need to be resolved. Removes himself with a leg cramp, while Wilson tries to play with a broken wrist. You decide who you would want.
5. Kingston Fleming: Came out of nowhere to be one of the best players in this draft. Doesn't have the flair of Acuff, but a way better defender.
6. Darius Acuff: A dynamic bucket getter who will be a star in the league. Can he play defense? What is his true height?
7. Keaton Wagler. Started the year as the 100th best player to becoming a top lottery pick. Looks to have a lot of upside left.
8. Mikel Brown: Moments of sheer brillance at times and sheer bone head plays at times. Not yet sure of who Brown is. But high potential.
9. Braylon Burries: Struggled over this one. Not as sold on him as some others. Had a rough last game against Michican and their great defense.
10. Yaxel Lendenberg: Age aside, He's a can't miss ready to play player right now. Love, love this dude. Super glue guy!
11. LaBarron Philon: One of the best PG's in the draft. Could be the starting PG on a team from the get go. really like his game.
12 Thomas Haugh: One of my favorite players in the draft. Great motor, and very skilled overall. Has that dog in him. Another glue guy!
13. Brayden Mullins: I think he's just scratching the surface of how good he can be. I think he has a higher ceiling than Burries.
14. Bennett Stirtz: Very talented PG. Lacks the athleticism of some of the others but not the ability. High IQ player. Don't leave him open.
15. Karim Lopez: Don't sleep on him! Good athlete! Better version of Koa Peat. Has more game away from the basket than Peat, and in my opinion, he's a better athlete.
16. Jaden Quaintance: If he had some game away from the basket, he'd be a top 5 or 6 pick. Injuries have held him back. Needs to return to Kentucky. He's this high based on potential.
17. Tounde Yessofou: Tremendous upside. Freak athlete that looks like an NFL linebacker. Needs to develop an outside game. How often have you heard that?
18. Hannes Steinback: I'm not as sold on him as some others, but a good rim protecter, and rebounder. Starting to show some outside game.
19. Chris Cenac: Very high ceiling, which so far hasn't equaled results. But he has all the tools to be a good NBA player. Like him more than I should!
20. Nate Ament: Top ten pick on potential alone, but unfortunately the results didn't equal his potential. Probably would benifit from returning to school. Probably would benefit from going back to Houston.
21. Koa Peat: His first game set a standard for him which he didn't consistently acheive. Should return to school and likely be a top 10 pick next year.
22. Aday Mara: Not as high on him as others. Good rim defender. Totally left handed offensively. Not a great athlete! Lendeberg and Johnson made him look better than he was. In my humble opinion.
23. Christian Anderson: I have him higher than most. I like his game. I think his true size will determine his spot in the draft. Good outside shooter.
24. Dailyn Swain: Definitely has NBA potential. I'd like to see him with more freedom offensively.
25. Cameron Carr: Has quietly put together a very good season. He's been very consistent all season. Very good shooter and solid defensively.
26. Isaiah Evans: A bucket getter, and a player that isn't afraid to take the big shot. Saved Duke's A$$ multiple times this season when no one else could score. Would be a great 6th man on a team.
27. Allen Graves: Could end up being one of the best players in this draft. Best player on the Santa Clara team. Shot plus 40% from three, and a solid defensive player.
28. Alex Karaban: This is personal bias pick. Love Karaban who seems like he's played at Uconn forever. Not the greatest athlete and likely will never be a starter, but could be a great rotation player. Better defender than he's given credit for. Don't leave him open!
29. Sergio De Larrea: If his game in the Spanish league translates to the NBA, then he could be the steal of this draft. Plus 40% 3pt shooter. Good passer and solid passer. Averaged just a tick under 8 assists a game. Better athlete than I orginally thought.
30. Amari Allen: There are other players that could be listed here. But talent wise, Allen is in my undecided range, along with about 20 other players yet to be named. Very deep draft and full of players that will go in the 2nd round, that I could find a place for them in the 1st round. But Allen is as good a player with as much equal potential as any of them.
By the time I get to my final mock, I'm sure there will be some changes to my top 30. Best freshmen class I've ever seen, with at least 10 to 12 potential stars down the road. When you throw in some of the good
upperclassmen, like Yaxel, you have one hell of a draft.
By the way, don't judge Yaxel on his final game. He out there playing on a sprained ankel, and an ACL sprain. He was likely only about 75% of his normal self. I think he would have found a way to play if he had a leg cramp!!!!
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QWERTYLICIOUS
Starter
I have a feeling that Yaxel is going to go earlier than he should, and that team will go on to regret it down the road.
Telemachus
Starter
I don't think the team who drafts Yaxel will regret it. He has great size, is very skilled and athletic. He showed this year just how coachable he was by playing a reduced role and out of position most of the year.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
He looks like a solid pretty productive role guy. Reminds me of Obi Toppin a little bit. Not overly skilled but solid. If the Kings drop to around 8th or so he's in that next tier so whatever. I'd take Stirtz over him if it were me.
datamanwes
G-League
Thank you Baja. I always enjoy your draft posts. This year i have been way more active in looking at potential draftees. I was waiting to read your words before deciding on who i would like on the Kings. I personally like AJ, Caleb, Keaton but i wiould be more than happy with Cam, Peterson, Flemmings or Acuff. So i am hoping for a top 7 pick but would be even more excited with a top 5 pick
Joshyjosh31
Starter
The advantage Wilson has over AJ in defense AJ has in scoring he’s gonna be an elite scorer a 6’9 SGA
You’re extremely high on Wilson the heartbreak the Perry is gonna give you when we take Acuff over him at four is gonna sting
sono
Starter
Having my coffee while reading over this post is the cherry on top. Can't wait for the detailed analysis of the top 8 within which we might play the ping pong.
serbiangoat
Starter
It's not a dig I'm just stating why the Kings will draft Boozer it's a elite thing to be a player at 18 who looks like a 5th year senior, the reason the Kings have been drafting 5th year seniors is cause they look really good in college.
Kingster
Hall of Famer
I'm with you on #1 and #2. I don't really care which one, just give me one. Boozer and Peterson have high bust potential, imo, for different reasons. Boozer, because of his physical limitations, defense, and questionable ability to transfer his game to NBA. Peterson because he smells to me of entitlement and a guy who is more interested in showcasing himself than in competing. I don't like his vibe at all.
I'm very curious about who the Kings pick in the 2nd round.
